Fiery four-car crash closes Abercorn for hour-plus

Police say a drunk driver is to blame for a chain-reaction collision that ignited two cars Sunday.

Karen Morgan, 38, was driving north on Abercorn Street about 9 p.m. when she slammed into a car stopped at a red light on DeRenne Avenue, according to a Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police report.

The impact caused the vehicle she struck to hit another car, which then struck a third, police spokesman Lt. Mike Wilkins said. Four vehicles, including Morgan's, were involved.

Officers arrived and found flames coming from two of the cars, police said.

Officers closed the northbound lanes of Abercorn Street while firefighters extinguished the flames. Northbound traffic on Abercorn Street, from Lee Boulevard to DeRenne, remained closed for about an hour and 20 minutes, Wilkins said.

One of the crash victims pulled an infant from one of the burning vehicles before officers arrived, Wilkins said a witness told officers. The child was not hurt.

"As chaotic as this scene was, it's fortunate that no one was injured," Wilkins said.

Police arrested Morgan after she failed a field sobriety test, Wilkins said.

Morgan told officers she had a few shots and had taken some Xanax, the report says.

While taking the field sobriety test, Morgan told officers "I'm too f----- up for this," the report says.

Police transported Morgan to St. Joseph's Hospital for an elevated pulse, police said. She was charged with DUI less safe because she refused to take the Breathalyzer, following too closely and driving without a license on her person. She was released on a subpoena, Wilkins said.

While officers were handcuffing Morgan, her boyfriend continued to shout at officers, saying he was the driver, the report said. Police arrested the boyfriend, 46-year-old Walter Hohne, on charges of obstruction.